It seems like you can't be a successful musician these days without a strong social media presence. Fortunately for us, Canadian musicians have approached Tweeting, blogging, Instagramming, and everything else with the same passion and talent that goes into their music. Check out some samples of the nominees for the #socialbutterfly award for best use of social media, and then vote here!
ListenListen to the #socialbutterfly nominees on Lanarama: CBC Radio 3
Dan Mangan
MySpace is like a playground in Chernobyl.
— Dan Mangan (@danmanganmusic) October 18, 2012
Dan Mangan seems to have a pathological need to connect with people. You can hear it in his songs, see it in his live show, and it even extends to his social media presence. His popular Twitter account runs the gamut from pun based humour to political commentary to behind the scenes looks at life on the road. He also maintains a healthy Instagram and his website delivers lengthier missives, which in true Mangan style are always heartfelt and sincere.
Said The Whale
Said The Whale are the band equivalent of your favourite group of friends to hang out with - they always seem to be up to something fun, and they always seem to be having the time of their lives. Their social media presence bears this out. Their Twitter account is constantly updated with funny details of life on the road and impassioned stumping for bands they're friends with (which appears to be pretty much all of them). Their Instagram recently tracked singer Tyler Bancroft's odyssey across America with a camping trailer. And they recently embraced the oldest social media of them all, inviting fans to write them real honest-to-God letters.
Rich Aucoinpondering guy: "are we there yet?"
![Rich Aucoin]()
Rich Aucoin has a reputation for enthusiasm - just ask anyone who's ever seen him live. That enthusiasm extends to his social media. His medium of choice is Instagram, where he curates a constant stream of pictures that range from beautiful to thought provoking to just plain funny. He doesn't neglect Twitter, either, where his excitement about the world comes through in 140 character or less bursts.
Kathleen EdwardsYou know you're in a particularly bad mood when you've put on underwear for the first time in 6 months.
— Kathleen Edwards (@kittythefool) October 29, 2012
Onstage and off, Kathleen Edwards is known for her frankness – she doesn’t shy away from speaking her mind. On her Twitter, it’s taken the form of everything from opinions on who roasts the best coffee in Canada to a blow by blow recounting of a severe allergic reaction. Her Instagram spices up the usual tour pictures with screenshots of text message conversations with her friends and family.
Hey Ocean!She has lyrics from our song, Fifteen Words tattooed on her back! Crazy!!
Hey Ocean! love their fans, and their fans love them. Every aspect of the band's online presence is centered around the fans. Their website, for example, encourages fans to submit news stories and share photos of the band, and even provides a forum for fans to talk to one another. The band made good use of their devoted fanbase when they started a Kickstarter to fund their ambitious touring goals. Not surprisingly, their fans rallied around them, and they exceeded their goal. They also have Twitter!
THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES DID NOT MAKE THE SHORT LIST
HolleradoPaul Ryan's hairstyle went out of style at the same time white seashell necklaces did.
— Hollerado (@Hollerado) October 11, 2012
In 2011, Hollerado embarked on their “Meet The Mayor” tour, trying to meet and talk to the mayor of every city they played in, and asking fans in those cities to submit questions for their mayors. Since then, they’ve set up carpools to their concerts on Twitter and invited fans to claim ridiculous names on their guestlist for free entry to shows (example name: Count Chocula Carthweight). They also recently got Instagram, and their website is as handmade as a website can be.
Coeur de pirateWelcome princess.
Beatrice Martin a.k.a Coeur de pirate is no stranger to social media, maintaining healthy Twitter and Tumblr accounts, but it wasn't until she became pregnant last year that those accounts became essential reading. Martin kept a apologetically honest record of her experience as a first time mom-to-be, and her social media presence stopped being an account of being a musician and became something universal and resonant.
Library VoicesGlasgow, Scotland. I feel weird.
Do you ever get the sense that every band in Canada is friends with every other band in Canada? Library Voices could be used as a pretty convincing argument for this. Their Twitter is full of interactions with the likes of Dan Mangan, Aidan Knight, The Sheepdogs, and many many more. Their Instagram, on the other hand, is largely composed of pictures of delicious looking food and interesting craft beers.
Owen PallettAll I need to survive is love, music, and a magic 8-ball that only ever answers "stfu".
— Owen Pallett (@owenpallett) September 28, 2012
Owen Pallett keeps things simple - his social media is limited to a Twitter. Fortunately, it's the perfect medium for his dark sense of humour and caustic wit. He favours followers with commentary on current events, self deprecating jabs at his own creative process, and plenty of hilarious absurdities.
Aidan KnightDoes this mark the first Aidan Knight gif? Awesome!
Did you know the world's oldest sourdough starter is 122 years old, predating the rotary telephone? That's just one example of what you can learn by following Aidan Knight on Twitter. The Victoria songwriter has a wide eyed, awestruck way of looking at the world, and his excitement is palpable both there and on his Instagram (cat and food pictures, Aidan Knight style!) and Tumblr (hilarious reblogs and thoughtful essays). He really loves cats, which as everybody knows is the number one ingredient for social media success.
